[AMRadio] Johnson Valiant Audio Driver Stage Question

[w0ng at comcast.net]

Hey Jim,

Thanks for the advice. When I said that there was no HV I meant that no plate voltage was applied to the finals. I must have had a temporary brain-fart. When the filament switch is ON, I do indeed have audio plate voltage.

I'll check ALL the wiring again and let you know what I find. Appreciate the quick response.

73
Bill
w0ng

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Jim Wilhite" <w5jo at brightok.net> 

> Bill when the filament switch is turned on with the Valiant, HV for the 
> audio section is applied as well, so you have voltage on the plate and 
> the audio section is hot. 
> 
> These voltages are supplied by T2. My Valiant 2 book lists that 
> resistor as 820 ohms. For that resistor to go bad, you must have a 
> short somewhere or the socket has been miswired by someone. Double 
> check that. My resistance chart says you should see about 1K ohms to 
> ground with no power applied (everything turned off). 
> 
> 73 
> 
> Jim/W5JO 
> 
> 
> 
> > In my eternal quest to bring some life back into my (once total basket 
> > case) 1957 kit-version Valiant transmitter, I now have a "gremlin" of 
> > sorts living in the 12AU7 audio driver stage (V15). 
> > 
> > The 1k, 1/2w cathode bypass resistor R45 (in parallel with a 10uf, 35v 
> > electrolytic cap C99) connected from pin 3 & 8 of the 12AU7 driver 
> > tube to ground "lets all of its smoke out" after the power is on for 
> > about 8-10 minutes. 
> > 
> > No high voltage is applied, just sitting there on the bench idling and 
> > I can watch the resistor burn in the middle. It's weird (to me anyway) 
> > that it only happens after the rig is powered up for about 8-10 
> > minutes. 
> > 
> > On the off chance the resistor was bad, I replaced it and the 
> > electrolytic cap but it burned out again anyway. Checked the chassis 
> > grounds and solder joints, all OK. ed. 
> 
> > 
> > I took some voltage measurements and discovered that there is ZERO 
> > voltage at the 12AU7 cathode after a brief warmup. The manual says 
> > there should be 14 volts at pin 3 & 8. When I turn on the filament 
> > switch (with the rig cold) there is a slight momentary + voltage on 
> > the cathode as the heater warms up but after a few seconds, ZERO 
> > voltage on the cathode (???). All other voltages at the other tube 
> > pins are in spec. I'm using 117vac line voltage from a Variac. 
> > 
> > I've gone thru the wiring to look for any obvious problems, swapped 
> > known good 12AU7's but for the life of me don't know why the cathode 
> > bypass resistor keeps overheating (until it is actually smoking) and 
> > why there is no cathode voltage. 
> > 
> > I'm hoping some of you more experienced folks can lend a suggestion or 
> > two to point me in the right direction. I'd like to avoid encouraging 
> > anymore grey hair on my head if I can, hi. Thanks, Bill, w0ng 
> > ______________________________________________________________ 
> > Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net 
> > AMRadio mailing list 
> > List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html 
> > List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio 
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html 
> > Post: mailto:AMRadio at mailman.qth.net 
> > To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-request at mailman.qth.net with 
> > the word unsubscribe in the message body. 
> > 
> 
> ______________________________________________________________ 
> Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net 
> AMRadio mailing list 
> List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html 
> List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio 
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html 
> Post: mailto:AMRadio at mailman.qth.net 
> To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-request at mailman.qth.net with 
> the word unsubscribe in the message body.